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Sunday, November 1, 2015

Mindanao hydro power output falls as effects of El
Niño set in

DAVAO CITY, Nov. 1 (PIA) - Mindanao is now feeling
the effects of El Niño as it affects the operations of the Agus and Pulangi
Hydropower Complexes (APHC), which supplies nearly half of the island’s power
supply.

“This was among the scenarios the Mindanao Power
Monitoring Committee (MPMC) has discussed in a meeting last month to draw up
measures to cushion the impact of ‎the weather phenomenon to the power sector,"
says Dir. Romeo Montenegro, Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) public
affairs head.

The MinDA-led Mindanao power monitoring body has
earlier cited that based on the report by the Philippine Atmospheric,
Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAG-ASA), El Niño
conditions are present from the fourth quarter of this year up to the first
quarter of 2016.

Information gathered from the National Power
Corporation (NPC) showed that the water levels in Lanao Lake is now reaching
critical levels at 699.86 meters above sea level (masl) as of October 30, 2015.
This is nearing the lake's minimum operating level of 699.15 masl.

In the last 24 hours, data from Department of
Science and Technology (DOST) – PAG-ASA's Project NOAH showed that there was
rainfall in the area but only lasted for less than an hour and with a maximum
rainfall of 1 millimeter.

The weather phenomenon has resulted to the reduced
capacity of the APHC. As of October 30, 2015, Pulangi IV is only producing 60
MW from 144 MW on October 26. On the other hand, the Agus Hydropower Plants are
only producing 214 MW with Agus 1 and 2 producing no power due to a reported
tripping of the 138 kV Agus-Kibawe Transmission Line, which connects Agus 1 and
2 to the main grid. The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) is
still investigating the incident to determine cause of tripping which occurred
on the evening of October 29.

The NGCP reported that as of October 30, 2015
there is a peak deficiency of 166 MW in the Mindanao grid affecting different
areas in the island.

MinDA is closely coordinating and monitoring the
situation together with the other members MPMC and determining the extent of
the recent events to the operations of electric cooperatives and distribution
utilities.

“Despite the current situation, we are still
confident that by 2016 Mindanao will have a better power situation with the
entry of base load power plants, reducing our dependency to Agus and Pulangi
hydro," Montenegro said. (MinDA/PIA-Caraga)